Radiation detection apparatus, manufacturing method thereof, and radiation detection system

ABSTRACT

A method of manufacturing a radiation detection apparatus is provided. The apparatus comprises a first scintillator layer, a second scintillator layer, and a sensor panel that detects light emitted by the first scintillator layer and the second scintillator layer. The method comprises preparing a sensor unit having the sensor panel and the first scintillator layer which includes a set of columnar crystals formed on the sensor panel, and a scintillator panel having a scintillator substrate and the second scintillator layer which includes a set of columnar crystals formed on the scintillator substrate, and fixing the scintillator panel to the sensor panel such that the first scintillator layer and the second scintillator layer face each other.

This application is a continuation of application Ser. No. 13/528,963, filed on Jun. 21, 2012, claims benefit of the filing date of that application under 35 U.S.C. §120, and claims benefit under 35 U.S.C. §119 of Japanese patent application 2011-164766, filed Jul. 27, 2011. The entire contents of each of the mentioned earlier applications are incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

In recent years, digital radiation detection apparatuses, in which a scintillator that converts radiation into light of a wavelength that can be detected by a photoelectric conversion element is laminated on a sensor panel on which a plurality of photoelectric conversion elements are formed, have been commercialized. Scintillators consisting of Tb-doped GdOS or an alkali halide material such as Tl-doped CsI are predominant. When a vacuum deposition method is performed using an alkali halide scintillator material, a scintillator layer that includes a set of columnar crystals is formed. However, as shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B, because a scintillator layer 500 a has gaps 502 between columnar crystals 501 a, some of the radiation incident on the scintillator layer passes through these gaps 502, and reaches the sensor panel without being converted into light. Because the sensor panel is not able to detect radiation that has not been converted into light, the detective quantum efficiency (DQE) of the radiation detection apparatus decreases.

2. Description of the Related Art

In order to increase the amount of light emitted by the scintillator layer, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2008-051793 proposes a radiation detection apparatus in which a plurality of scintillator layers having different concentration distributions of Tl are formed on a sensor panel. In order to suppress the growth of abnormal growth portions such as splashes, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2005-148060 proposes a technique for forming a plurality of scintillator layers over a plurality of iterations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Both of the abovementioned documents propose a technique for forming a plurality of scintillator layers over a plurality of iterations. However, in both documents, a new scintillator layer is formed by performing vacuum deposition on a scintillator layer that has already been formed. Because the columnar crystals of the subsequent scintillator layer grow in accordance with the crystallinity (arrangement of columnar crystals) of the previous scintillator layer in the case where scintillator layers are formed in this way, the gaps between the columnar crystals of the previous scintillator layer and the gaps between the columnar crystals of the subsequent scintillator layer overlap. Thus, the proportion of radiation that reaches the sensor panel without being converted into light cannot be adequately reduced. In view of this, an aspect of the present invention is to provide a technique for reducing the proportion of radiation that passes through gaps between columnar crystals included in a scintillator layer of a radiation detection apparatus and reaches a sensor panel without being converted into light.

A first aspect of the present invention provides a method of manufacturing a radiation detection apparatus comprising a first scintillator layer, a second scintillator layer, and a sensor panel that detects light emitted by the first scintillator layer and the second scintillator layer, the method comprising: preparing a sensor unit having the sensor panel and the first scintillator layer which includes a set of columnar crystals formed on the sensor panel, and a scintillator panel having a scintillator substrate and the second scintillator layer which includes a set of columnar crystals formed on the scintillator substrate; and fixing the scintillator panel to the sensor panel such that the first scintillator layer and the second scintillator layer face each other.

A second aspect of the present invention provides a radiation detection apparatus comprising: a sensor panel that detects light; a first scintillator layer that includes a set of columnar crystals grown from the sensor panel, and converts radiation into light detectable by the sensor panel; a scintillator substrate; and a second scintillator layer that includes a set of columnar crystals grown from the scintillator substrate, and converts radiation into light detectable by the sensor panel, wherein a face of the first scintillator layer on an opposite side to a face contacting the sensor panel faces a face of the second scintillator layer on an opposite side to a face contacting the scintillator substrate.

Further features of the present invention will become apparent from the following description of exemplary embodiments (with reference to the attached drawings).

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of the specification, illustrate embodiments of the invention, and together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the invention.

FIGS. 1A-1D are diagrams illustrating exemplary configurations of a radiation detection apparatus of various embodiments of the present invention.

FIGS. 2A-2D are diagrams illustrating exemplary configurations of a radiation detection apparatus of various embodiments of the present invention.

FIGS. 3A-3C are diagrams illustrating the positional relationship of two scintillator layers of an embodiment of the present invention.

FIGS. 4A-4C are diagrams illustrating a preparation step of one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a preparation step of another embodiment of the present invention.

FIGS. 6A-6C are diagrams illustrating a fixing step of one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating a fixing step of another embodiment of the present invention.

FIGS. 8A-8C are diagrams illustrating a fixing step of another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating a fixing step of another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an exemplary configuration of a radiation detection system of an embodiment of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

Hereinafter, various embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the attached drawings. The same reference numerals are given to the same components throughout the drawings, and redundant description will be omitted. Also, the same reference numbers followed by different alphabets are given to similar components throughout the drawings, and description will focus on the differences.

FIGS. 1A-1D and FIGS. 2A-2D are diagrams illustrating exemplary configurations of the radiation detection apparatus according to various embodiments of the present invention. A radiation detection apparatus 100 a (first exemplary configuration) shown in FIG. 1A may comprise a sensor unit 200 a and a scintillator panel 300 a. The sensor unit 200 a may comprise a sensor panel 400 a and a first scintillator layer 500 a. The scintillator panel 300 a may comprise a scintillator substrate 600 a and a second scintillator layer 700 a.

The sensor panel 400 a detects light converted from radiation by the first scintillator layer 500 a or the second scintillator layer 700 a. The sensor panel 400 a may have any configuration that enables the position at which light is incident and the amount of incident light to be to detected, and an existing arbitrary sensor panel, for example, may be employed. An exemplary configuration of the sensor panel 400 a will now be described. The sensor panel 400 a may have an insulating substrate 401 consisting of glass or the like, and a pixel array constituted by a plurality of pixels arranged in an array on the substrate. Each pixel may include a photoelectric conversion element 402 and a thin film transistor (TFT; not shown). The photoelectric conversion element 402 or the TFT is connected to an electrically conductive pattern 403. The photoelectric conversion element 402 can produce electric charge according to light converted from radiation by the first scintillator layer 500 a or the second scintillator layer 700 a. The photoelectric conversion element 402 may be an MIS sensor, a PIN sensor, a TFT sensor, a CMOS sensor, or the like.

The sensor panel 400 a may further comprise a protection film 407 that covers and protects the photoelectric conversion elements 402, the electrically conductive patterns 403, and the TFTs. An inorganic substance such as SiN, TiO₂, LiF, Al₂O₃ or MgO, for example, may be used as the material for the protection film 407. The radiation detection apparatus 100 a may have a connection lead 404 such as a bonding pad that is disposed on the insulating substrate 401 of the sensor panel 400 a, and the connection lead 404 is connected to the electrically conductive patterns 403. The radiation detection apparatus 100 a may have external wiring 405 such as a flexible wiring substrate and a connection portion 406 such as solder or anisotropic conductive film (ACF). The connection lead 404 is electrically connected to the external wiring 405 through the connection portion 406. A signal obtained by the photoelectric conversion elements 402 is output to the outside through the connection portion 406.

The first scintillator layer 500 a is disposed in a position covering the pixel array of the sensor panel 400 a, and converts incident radiation into light that can be detected by the sensor panel 400 a. The first scintillator layer 500 a includes a set of columnar crystals 501 a of alkali halide material such as CsI:Tl, CsI:Na or CsBr:Tl. The thickness of the first scintillator layer 500 a, that is, the height of the columnar crystals 501 a, is in a range of 100-1000 μm inclusive, for example. In this specification, the face of the first scintillator layer 500 a that contacts the sensor panel 400 a is called the growth start face, and the face on the opposite side thereto (face on the far side of the sensor panel 400 a) is called the growth end face.

The scintillator substrate 600 a may comprise a scintillator support substrate 601. The area of the scintillator support substrate 601 is typically greater than the area of the pixel array. The second scintillator layer 700 a is disposed on one face of the scintillator substrate 600 a, and converts radiation incident thereon into light that can be detected by the sensor panel 400 a. The second scintillator layer 700 a includes a set of columnar crystals 701 a of alkali halide material such as CsI:Tl, CsI:Na or CsBr:Tl. The thickness of the second scintillator layer 700 a, that is, the height of the columnar crystals 701 a, is in a range of 100-1000 μm inclusive, for example. The face of the second scintillator layer 700 a that contacts the scintillator substrate 600 a is called the growth start face, and the face on the opposite side thereof (face on the far side of the scintillator substrate 600 a) is called the growth end face.

The scintillator support substrate 601 is capable of holding the second scintillator layer 700 a, and may be formed with a material that does not deform at temperatures reached during vacuum deposition. For example, in the case of using a metal for the scintillator support substrate 601, a metal having low radiation absorption such as aluminum, aluminum alloy, magnesium or magnesium alloy may be used. Alternatively, a material having heat resistance and low radiation absorption such as a carbon resin, PPS resin or polyimide resin may be used for the scintillator support substrate 601. In the case of using a metal as the material, the scintillator support substrate 601 also functions as a reflection layer. That is, light converted and emitted by the first scintillator layer 500 a or the second scintillator layer 700 a that reaches the opposite side to the sensor panel 400 a is reflected by the scintillator support substrate 601 and guided to the sensor panel 400 a. Light use efficiency can thereby be improved. Also, the scintillator support substrate 601 that functions as a reflection layer can block light from outside the radiation detection apparatus 100 a.

The sensor unit 200 a and the scintillator panel 300 a are laid one on top of the other such that the growth end face of the first scintillator layer 500 a faces the growth end face of the second scintillator layer 700 a, and are fixed by a sealing member 800. The sealing member 800 is adhered to a side face of the insulating substrate 401 and a side face of the scintillator support substrate 601 around the entire periphery thereof, and prevents moisture from infiltrating into the first scintillator layer 500 a and the second scintillator layer 700 a from outside the radiation detection apparatus 100 a. A resin such as an epoxy resin, an acrylic resin, a silicone resin or a fluorine resin, for example, may be used as the material for the sealing member 800. Of these resins, the durability of the radiation detection apparatus 100 a can be improved by using an epoxy resin having high moisture proofness. The first scintillator layer 500 a and the second scintillator layer 700 a may each be disposed in a position covering the pixel array of the sensor panel 400 a. For this reason, the area of the growth start face and the growth end face of the second scintillator layer 700 a is typically greater than or equal to the area of the pixel array. Also, the growth end face of the second scintillator layer 700 a may have an area comparable to the growth end face of the first scintillator layer 500 a.

The radiation detection apparatus 100 a has a structure in which the first scintillator layer 500 a and the second scintillator layer 700 a are laminated. Thus, light converted from radiation by the first scintillator layer 500 a or the second scintillator layer 700 a is incident on the photoelectric conversion elements 402 of the sensor panel 400 a. FIGS. 3A-3C are diagrams illustrating the structure of the first scintillator layer 500 a and the second scintillator layer 700 a. FIG. 3A is a plane SEM photograph of the first scintillator layer 500 a, and FIG. 3B is a cross-sectional SEM photograph of the first scintillator layer. The second scintillator layer 700 a has a similar structure. FIG. 3C is a diagram illustrating the positional relationship of the first scintillator layer 500 a and the second scintillator layer 700 a, with each columnar crystal of the second scintillator layer 700 a being shown transmissively for the purpose of description, and the outline thereof shown by a dotted line. As shown in FIG. 3A, in the case where the first scintillator layer 500 a is formed by a vacuum deposition method, a set of columnar crystals 501 a having irregular shapes and column diameters is formed. Thus, gaps 502 occur between adjacent columnar crystals 501 a, and radiation irradiated into these gaps 502 reaches the sensor panel 400 a without being converted into light and cannot be detected by the sensor panel 400 a. The conversion efficiency from radiation into light is thus not adequately obtained with only the first scintillator layer 500 a. In contrast, the radiation detection apparatus 100 a has a structure in which the first scintillator layer 500 a and second scintillator layer 700 a vacuum-deposited on different substrates are laminated. Thus, the arrangement of the columnar crystals 501 a in the first scintillator layer 500 a and the arrangement of the columnar crystals 701 a in the second scintillator layer 700 a are not mutually correlated. As a result, the gaps between the columnar crystals of the first scintillator layer 500 a and the gaps between the columnar crystals of the second scintillator layer 700 a can be disposed so as to be mutually displaced. For example, as shown in FIG. 3C, the columnar crystals 701 a of the second scintillator layer 700 a can be disposed so as to overlap with the gaps 502 between the columnar crystals 501 a of the first scintillator layer 500 a. The proportion of radiation that reaches the sensor panel 400 a without being converted into light by the scintillators can thereby be reduced, and the detective quantum efficiency (DQE) of radiation detected by the radiation detection apparatus 100 a improves.

Although the first scintillator layer 500 a and the second scintillator layer 700 a have comparable thicknesses in the radiation detection apparatus 100 a, these thicknesses may differ as discussed later. Also, with the radiation detection apparatus 100 a, the columnar crystals 501 a of the first scintillator layer 500 a and the columnar crystals 701 a of the second scintillator layer 700 a have comparable column diameters (e.g., 5 μm on average). In other words, the first scintillator layer 500 a and the second scintillator layer 700 a have a comparable number of columnar crystals per unit area. However, the column diameters and number of crystals thereof may differ as discussed later. Although an example was shown in which the second scintillator layer 700 a covers the entire pixel array of the sensor panel 400 a in the radiation detection apparatus 100 a, a configuration may be adopted in which only a portion of the pixel array is covered, enabling the radiation DQE to be improved in that portion.

An exemplary configuration of a radiation detection apparatus 100 b according to another embodiment of the present invention (second exemplary configuration) will be described with reference to FIG. 1B. The radiation detection apparatus 100 b may comprise the aforementioned sensor unit 200 a, scintillator panel 300 a, and sealing member 800. The tips of the columnar crystals 501 a and 701 a formed using a vacuum deposition method may have a tapered shape as shown in FIG. 3B. In view of this, with the radiation detection apparatus 100 b, the scintillator panel 300 a is fixed to the sensor unit 200 a, so that the tips of the columnar crystals 501 a fit between mutually adjacent columnar crystals 701 a and the tip of the columnar crystals 701 a fit between mutually adjacent columnar crystals 501 a. Adopting such a configuration enables the distance between the first scintillator layer 500 a and the second scintillator layer 700 a to be reduced, and the amount of the scattered light produced between these scintillator layers to be reduced.

Alternatively, the distance between the first scintillator layer 500 a and the second scintillator layer 700 a may be reduced by flattening the tips of the columnar crystals 501 a and 701 a through polishing or the like after the end of vacuum deposition.

An exemplary configuration of a radiation detection apparatus 100 c according to another embodiment of the present invention (third exemplary configuration) will be described with reference to FIG. 1C. In addition to a sensor unit 200 c, a scintillator panel 300 c and the sealing member 800, the radiation detection apparatus 100 c may comprise a light-shielding layer 801 between the first scintillator layer 500 a and the second scintillator layer 700 a. The light-shielding layer 801 may have a mesh structure in which openings are arranged in the radiation incident direction. The light-shielding layer 801, having the mesh structure, allows optical crosstalk between both scintillator layers and obliquely incident radiation to be reduced in the radiation detection apparatus 100 c. A material such as Pb or Fe that shields light and radiation may be used as the material for the light-shielding layer 801. Also, the thickness of the light-shielding layer 801 is 20-100 μm, for example, and the width of the mesh is 30-200 μm, for example. The size of the light-shielding layer 801 may be a size that is able to cover the pixel array of the sensor panel 400 a.

The sensor unit 200 c may comprise a sensor panel 400 c and the aforementioned first scintillator layer 500 a. The sensor panel 400 c differs from the sensor panel 400 a in having an organic protection layer 408 between the protection film 407 and the first scintillator layer 500 a. By providing the organic protection layer 408, the durability of the sensor panel 400 c can be further improved. Various existing organic resins may be used as the material for the organic protection layer 408.

The scintillator panel 300 c may comprise a scintillator substrate 600 c and the aforementioned second scintillator layer 700 a. The scintillator substrate 600 c differs from the scintillator substrate 600 a in having a protection layer 602 between the scintillator support substrate 601 and the second scintillator layer 700 a. By providing the protection layer 602, corrosion of the scintillator support substrate 601 due to the second scintillator layer 700 a can be reduced, and the adhesion between the second scintillator layer 700 a and the scintillator substrate 600 c can be improved. An organic material such as a polyimide resin, an epoxy resin, an acrylic resin or a silicone resin or an inorganic material such as Al₂O₃, SiO₂ or TiO₂, for example, may be used as the material for the protection layer 602. The protection layer 602 and the organic protection layer 408 are applicable to any of the embodiments of the radiation detection apparatus described in this specification.

An exemplary configuration of a radiation detection apparatus 100 d according to another embodiment of the present invention (fourth exemplary configuration) will be described with reference to FIG. 1D. In addition to the abovementioned sensor unit 200 c, scintillator panel 300 c and sealing member 800, the radiation detection apparatus 100 d has an adhesive layer 803 between the first scintillator layer 500 a and the second scintillator layer 700 a. The adhesive layer 803 adheres and fixes the first scintillator layer 500 a to the second scintillator layer 700 a, and improves shock resistance by suppressing the knocking together and damaging of both scintillator layers. An adhesive material or a hot melt resin may be used as the material for the adhesive layer 803. The adhesive material is a material having adhesion with respect to other organic materials and inorganic materials at room temperature. The hot melt resin is a resin that melts when the resin temperature rises and thereby becomes adhesive with respect to other organic materials and inorganic materials, and solidifies when the resin temperature falls and thereby loses adhesion. Various existing materials may be used as the adhesive material and the hot melt resin.

An exemplary configuration of a radiation detection apparatus 100 e according to another embodiment of the present invention (fifth exemplary configuration) will be described with reference to FIG. 2A. The radiation detection apparatus 100 e may comprise a sensor unit 200 e, a scintillator panel 300 e, the sealing member 800, and the adhesive layer 803. The sensor unit 200 e may comprise the abovementioned sensor panel 400 c and first scintillator layer 500 e. The scintillator panel 300 e may comprise the abovementioned scintillator substrate 600 c and a second scintillator layer 700 e. Although the first scintillator layer 500 e and the second scintillator layer 700 e have a set of columnar crystals similarly to the abovementioned embodiments, a difference exists in that the thickness of the first scintillator layer 500 e (e.g., 550 μm) is greater than the thickness of the second scintillator layer 700 e (e.g., 450 μm).

An exemplary configuration of a radiation detection apparatus 100 f according to another embodiment of the present invention (sixth exemplary configuration) will be described with reference to FIG. 2B. In addition to the abovementioned sensor unit 200 c, scintillator panel 300 c and adhesive layer 803, the radiation detection apparatus 100 f may comprise a protection film 804 that entirely envelops the sensor unit 200 c and the scintillator panel 300 c that are fixed by the adhesive layer 803. The protection film 804 enables infiltration of moisture into the first scintillator layer 500 a and the second scintillator layer 700 a from outside the radiation detection apparatus 100 f to be suppressed, improving the moisture resistance of the radiation detection apparatus 100 e. The protection film 804 may be either an organic protection film or an inorganic protection film, or may be a laminated structure thereof. A material such as poly-para-xylylene or polyurea that may be formed by vacuum deposition or a thermocompression-bonding resin such as a hot melt resin that may be formed by thermocompression bonding may be used as the organic protection film. A material such as SIO₂, Al₂O₃ or TiO₂ that may be formed by vacuum deposition may be used as the inorganic protection film. The side face of the radiation detection apparatus 100 f enveloped with the protection film 804 may be enclosed with the abovementioned sealing member 800.

An exemplary configuration of a radiation detection apparatus 100 g according to another embodiment of the present invention (seventh exemplary configuration) will be described with reference to FIG. 2C. The radiation detection apparatus 100 g may comprise a sensor unit 200 g, a scintillator panel 300 g, the sealing member 800, and the adhesive layer 803. In addition to the abovementioned sensor panel 400 c and the first scintillator layer 500 a, the sensor unit 200 g has a protection film 201 that covers the first scintillator layer 500 a. The protection film 201 may entirely cover the sensor panel 400 c and the first scintillator layer 500 a as shown in FIG. 2C, or may cover only a portion including an exposed portion of the first scintillator layer 500 a.

In addition to the scintillator substrate 600 f and the second scintillator layer 700 a, the scintillator panel 300 g has a protection film 301 that covers the second scintillator layer 700 a. The scintillator substrate 600 f differs from the scintillator substrate 600 c in having a reflection layer 603 between the scintillator support substrate 601 and the protection layer 602. A metal material such as aluminum, gold or silver may be used as the material for the reflection layer 603, and, of these, aluminum and gold having of high reflective properties may be used. The protection film 301 may entirely cover the scintillator substrate 600 f and the second scintillator layer 700 a as shown in FIG. 2C, or may cover only a portion including an exposed portion of the second scintillator layer 700 a. The protection films 201 and 301 may both be formed with a similar material to the abovementioned protection film 804. In particular, c-PET and a-PET coextrusion resins which are polyester resins having adhesion only on one side may be used as the organic resins. Although FIG. 2C illustrates a configuration in which both the first scintillator layer 500 a and the second scintillator layer 700 a are covered respectively with the protection film 201 and the protection film 301, the present invention is not limited thereto. Although an embodiment in which only one of the scintillator layers is covered with a protection film may be adopted, a configuration in which both are covered enables moisture protection of the scintillator layers to be further improved.

An exemplary configuration of a radiation detection apparatus 100 h according to another embodiment of the present invention (eighth exemplary configuration) will be described with reference to FIG. 2D. The radiation detection apparatus 100 h may comprise a sensor unit 200 h, a scintillator panel 300 h, the sealing member 800, and the adhesive layer 803. The sensor unit 200 h differs from the sensor unit 200 g in comprising a first scintillator layer 500 h. The scintillator panel 300 h differs from the scintillator panel 300 g in comprising a second scintillator layer 700 h. The first scintillator layer 500 h and the second scintillator layer 700 h each have a set of columnar crystals, similarly to the abovementioned embodiments. However, a difference exists in that the average column diameter of the columnar crystals 501 h of the first scintillator layer 500 h (average approx. 5 μm from 2-8 μm) is smaller than an average column diameter of the columnar crystals 701 h of the second scintillator layer 700 h (average approx. 7 μm from 4-10 μm). In other words, there are more columnar crystals 501 h per unit area of the first scintillator layer 500 h than there are columnar crystals 701 h per unit area of the second scintillator layer 700 h.

By increasing the column diameter of the columnar crystals 701 h of the second scintillator layer 700 h nearer the radiation incident side, incident radiation can be efficiently captured. In other words, the proportion occupied by the columnar crystals 701 h in a cross-section of the second scintillator layer 700 h can be increased. Also, by decreasing the column diameter of the columnar crystals 501 h of the first scintillator layer 500 h nearer the sensor panel 400 c, the column diameter of the columnar crystals 501 h may be sufficiently decreased as compared with the area of the photoelectric conversion elements 402. The columnar crystals 501 h thereby function as a fiber optic plate (FOP), and light produced by the first scintillator layer 500 h and the second scintillator layer 700 h may be guided to the photoelectric conversion elements 402. The detective quantum efficiency of radiation by the radiation detection apparatus 100 h thereby further improves.

Next, a manufacturing method of the abovementioned radiation detection apparatuses 100 a to 100 h will be described. The manufacturing method mainly has a preparation step of preparing the sensor unit and the scintillator panel, and a fixing step of fixing the scintillator panel to the sensor unit. As mentioned beforehand, the DQE of radiation detected by the radiation detection apparatus improves as a result of forming two scintillator layers independently on different substrates, and laminating these scintillator layers. A plurality of embodiments of the preparation step and a plurality of embodiments of the fixing step will be described hereinafter. Unless particularly stated otherwise, the embodiments of the preparation step and the embodiments of the fixing step may be arbitrary combined. Since the connection lead 404, the external wiring 405 and the connection portion 406 may be attached at arbitrary points in time with existing techniques, description thereof is omitted hereinafter.

A first embodiment of the preparation step will be described hereinafter. First, the sensor panel 400 a and the scintillator substrate 600 a are prepared. Since these manufacturing methods are well known in the field concerned, description thereof is omitted. For example, a scintillator substrate 600 a having a 0.5 mm thick aluminum plate as the scintillator support substrate 601 is prepared. Also, a SiN film is formed as the protection film 407 of the sensor panel 400 a, for example.

Next, as shown in FIG. 4A, the prepared sensor panel 400 a and scintillator substrate 600 a are mounted on a rotating holder 901 of a vacuum deposition apparatus so as to be positioned equidistantly from a rotation center. A resistive heating boat is filled with cesium iodide (CsI) and thallium iodide (TlI) as vacuum deposition materials; Ar gas is introduced while exhausting the inside of the vacuum deposition apparatus with a vacuum pump to adjust the degree of vacuum to 0.1 Pa; and vacuum deposition is performed. As shown in FIG. 4B, CsI:Tl columnar crystals 501 a thereby grow on the sensor panel 400 a, and the first scintillator layer 500 a is formed. Also, at the same time, as shown in FIG. 4C, CsI:Tl columnar crystals 701 a grow on the scintillator substrate 600 a, and the second scintillator layer 700 a is formed. For example, vacuum deposition is performed such that the thickness of the first scintillator layer 500 a will be 500 μm, and the average column diameter of the columnar crystals 501 a will be 5 μm. The sensor panel 400 a and the scintillator substrate 600 a are arranged equidistantly from the rotation center of the rotating holder 901. Thus, the thickness of the second scintillator layer 700 a will also be 500 μm, and the average column diameter of the columnar crystals 701 a will also be 5 μm. The abovementioned sensor unit 200 a and scintillator panel 300 a may be prepared in this way.

In this embodiment of the preparation step, the vacuum deposition time is shorter as compared with the case where a single scintillator layer having the total thickness of the first scintillator layer 500 a and the second scintillator layer 700 a is formed. Thus, growth of splashes can be suppressed, as well as being able to achieve a reduction in the number of steps and cost.

The sensor unit 200 c may be prepared by performing the abovementioned vacuum deposition using the sensor panel 400 c instead of the sensor panel 400 a. The sensor panel 400 c may be prepared by coating polyimide resin on the protection film 407 to form a 10 μm thick organic protection layer 408. Also, the scintillator panel 300 c may be prepared, by performing the abovementioned vacuum deposition using the scintillator substrate 600 c instead of the scintillator substrate 600 a. The scintillator substrate 600 c may be prepared by, for example, applying polyimide resin on the scintillator support substrate 601 to form a 10 μm thick protection layer 602.

Next, a second embodiment of the preparation step will be described. First, the sensor panel 400 c and the scintillator substrate 600 f are prepared. The scintillator substrate 600 f may be prepared by vacuum-depositing Al using a 1 mm thick amorphous carbon plate, for example, as the scintillator support substrate 601 to form a 10 μm thick reflection layer 603, and applying polyimide resin to form a 10 μm thick protection layer 602. The first scintillator layer 500 a and the second scintillator layer 700 a are then formed similarly to the first embodiment. Thereafter, Myler 850 (produced by Teijin DuPont Films), for example, is thermocompression bonded to the sensor panel 400 c and the first scintillator layer 500 a to form a 15 μm thick protection film 201. The sensor unit 200 g can thereby be prepared. Also, Myler 850 (produced by Teijin DuPont Films), for example, is thermocompression bonded to the scintillator substrate 600 f and the second scintillator layer 700 a to form a 15 μm thick protection film 301. The scintillator panel 300 g can thereby be prepared. Infiltration of moisture during the manufacturing steps may be mitigated by covering the first scintillator layer 500 a and the second scintillator layer 700 a with the protection films 201 and 301 prior to the fixing step.

Next, a third embodiment of the preparation step will be described. First, the sensor panel 400 c and the scintillator substrate 600 c are prepared similarly to the abovementioned examples. Next, as shown in FIG. 5, the prepared sensor panel 400 c and scintillator substrate 600 c are mounted on the rotating holder 901 of the vacuum deposition apparatus. In this example, the sensor panel 400 c is mounted so as to be nearer the rotation center of the rotating holder 901 than is the scintillator substrate 600 c. A resistive heating boat is then filled with CsI and TlI as vacuum deposition materials, Ar gas is introduced while exhausting the inside of the vacuum deposition apparatus with a vacuum pump to adjust the degree of vacuum to 0.1 Pa, and vacuum deposition is performed. CsI:Tl columnar crystals 501 e thereby grow on the sensor panel 400 c, and the first scintillator layer 500 e is formed. Also, at the same time, CsI:Tl columnar crystals 701 e grow on the scintillator substrate 600 c, and the second scintillator layer 700 e is formed. For example, vacuum deposition is performed such that the thickness of the first scintillator layer 500 a will be 550 μm, and the average column diameter of the columnar crystals 501 a will be 5 μm. The sensor panel 400 c is mounted so as to be nearer the rotation center of the rotating holder 901 than is the scintillator substrate 600 c. Thus, the thickness of the second scintillator layer 700 e will be 550 μm, for example, which is greater than the first scintillator layer 500 e, and the average column diameter of the columnar crystals 701 a will be 5 μm. The abovementioned sensor unit 200 e and scintillator panel 300 e can be prepared in this way. The thicknesses of the scintillator layers that are formed can thus be adjusted by adjusting the distance from the rotation center, and sorting of scintillator layers according to properties can be carried out.

Next, a fourth embodiment of the preparation step will be described. First, the sensor panel 400 c and the scintillator substrate 600 f are prepared, similarly to the abovementioned examples. Next, the prepared sensor panel 400 c is mounted in the center of the rotating holder 901 of the vacuum deposition apparatus. A resistive heating boat is then filled with CsI and TlI as vacuum deposition materials, Ar gas is introduced while exhausting the inside of the vacuum deposition apparatus with a vacuum pump to adjust the degree of vacuum to 1 Pa, and vacuum deposition is performed (first vacuum deposition step). CsI:Tl columnar crystals 501 h thereby grow on the sensor panel 400 c, and the first scintillator layer 500 h is formed. For example, the thickness of the first scintillator layer 500 h is 500 μm, and the average column diameter of the columnar crystals 501 h is 3 μm. The sensor unit 200 h may be prepared by vacuum-depositing poly-para-xylylene, for example, to form the protection film 201.

Next, the prepared scintillator substrate 600 c is mounted in the center of the rotating holder 901 of the vacuum deposition apparatus. A resistive heating boat is then filled with CsI and TlI as vacuum deposition materials, Ar gas is introduced while exhausting the inside of the vacuum deposition apparatus with a vacuum pump to adjust the degree of vacuum to 0.05 Pa, and vacuum deposition is performed (second vacuum deposition step). CsI:Tl columnar crystals 701 h thereby grow on the scintillator substrate 600 c, and the second scintillator layer 700 h is formed. For example, the thickness of the second scintillator layer 700 h is 500 μm, and the average column diameter of the columnar crystals 701 h is 7 μm. The scintillator panel 300 h may then be prepared by vacuum-depositing poly-para-xylylene, for example, to form the protection film 301. In this example, the average column diameter of the columnar crystals 501 h of the first scintillator layer 500 h and the average column diameter of the columnar crystals 701 h of the second scintillator layer 700 h can be differentiated by executing separate vacuum deposition steps with different degrees of vacuum. In this embodiment, because the degree of vacuum (0.05 Pa) in the second vacuum deposition step is lower than the degree of vacuum (1 Pa) in the first vacuum deposition step, the average column diameter (7 μm) of the columnar crystals 701 h will be greater than the average column diameter (3 μm) of the columnar crystals 501 h.

Next, a first embodiment of the fixing step will be described. First, as shown in FIG. 6A, the sensor unit 200 a prepared in the abovementioned preparation step is put in a recessed portion of a frame member 902. At this time, the sensor unit 200 a is placed so that the first scintillator layer 500 a is positioned above the sensor panel 400 a. A frame member 902 is used in which the area of the recessed portion is slightly larger than the insulating substrate 401 of the sensor unit 200 a. Next, as shown in FIG. 6B, the scintillator panel 300 a prepared in the abovementioned preparation step is put in the recessed portion of the frame member 902 and stacked on top of the sensor unit 200 a. At this time, the scintillator panel 300 a is placed so that the second scintillator layer 700 a is positioned below the scintillator substrate 600 a. Here, a frame member 902 is used in which the size of the scintillator support substrate 601 of the scintillator panel 300 a is slightly smaller than the area of the recessed portion. The sensor unit 200 a and the scintillator panel 300 a can thereby be positioned, and are disposed in positions where the growth end face of the first scintillator layer 500 a faces the growth end face of the second scintillator layer 700 a.

Next, as shown in FIG. 6C, the laminated sensor unit 200 a and the scintillator panel 300 a are removed from the frame member 902. The radiation detection apparatus 100 a is then formed by attaching the connection lead 404, the external wiring 405 and the connection portion 406 to the sensor unit 200 a, and fixing the sensor unit 200 a and the scintillator panel 300 a with a sealing member 800 consisting of epoxy resin, for example.

Also, after putting the sensor unit 200 a and the scintillator panel 300 a in the recessed portion of the frame member 902, the scintillator panel 300 a is pressed at a pressure of 1 MPa, for example, relative to the sensor unit 200 a using a press unit 903, as shown in FIG. 7. The scintillator panel 300 a is thereby pressed against the sensor unit 200 a. Thereafter, the sealing member 800 is formed as mentioned above, and the radiation detection apparatus 100 b is formed.

Next, a second embodiment of the fixing step will be described. First, the light-shielding layer 801 having the mesh structure is prepared. The light-shielding layer 801 can be formed by the following method, for example. First, as shown in FIG. 8A, a light-shielding material 805 that has a mesh structure formed with Pb or Fe, a thickness of 20-100 μm and a mesh width of 30-200 μm is prepared. As shown in FIG. 8B, a light-shielding layer 801 such as shown in FIG. 8C can then be formed by sandwiching the light-shielding material 805 between adhesive layers 806 consisting of hot melt resin or an adhesive material, and performing thermocompression bonding with a vacuum laminator or a heat roller. After putting the light-shielding layer 801 thus prepared in the frame member 902 in which the sensor unit 200 c has been put, the radiation detection apparatus 100 d is formed by further putting the scintillator panel 300 c therein.

Next, a third embodiment of the fixing step will be described. Similarly to the second embodiment, as shown in FIG. 9, after laminating the sensor unit 200 c, the adhesive layer 803 and the scintillator panel 300 c, thermocompression bonding is performed while removing air bubbles between the scintillator layers 500 a and 700 a and the adhesive layer 803 using a roll laminator 904. For example, CS9621T (Nitto Denko Corporation) is used as the adhesive layer 803. The scintillator panel 300 c is fixed to the sensor unit 200 c through the adhesive layer 803.

Thereafter, the radiation detection apparatus 100 d is formed by forming the sealing member 800 similarly to the abovementioned embodiments. Also, a 10 μm thick polyurea film is formed by vacuum deposition around the sensor unit 200 c, the adhesive layer 803 and the scintillator panel 300 c. Thereafter, a 100 nm thick Al₂O₃ film is formed by vacuum deposition, and a 2 μm thick polyurea film is further formed by vacuum deposition to form the protection film 804. The radiation detection apparatus 100 f is thereby formed.

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an exemplary application in a diagnostic X-ray system (radiation detection system) of a radiation detection apparatus according to the present invention. X-rays 6060 serving as radiation generated by an X-ray tube 6050 (radiation source) pass through a chest 6062 of a subject or patient 6061, and are incident on a radiation detection apparatus 6040 that may be any of the abovementioned radiation detection apparatuses 100 a to 100 h. Information about the body of the patient 6061 is included in these incident X-rays. Scintillators emit light in response to the incidence of the X-rays, photoelectrically convert the emitted light, and obtain electrical information. This information is converted into a digital signal, image processing is performed by the image processor 6070 serving as signal processing means, and may be monitored on a display 6080 serving as display means in a control room. Note that a radiation detection system has at least a detection apparatus and signal processing means that processes signals from the detection apparatus.

Also, this information may be transferred to a remote location by transmission processing means such as a telephone line 6090, and may be displayed on a display 6081 serving as display means in another location such as a doctor's clinic or saved in recording means such as an optical disc, enabling a doctor at the remote location to make a diagnosis. This information may also be recorded by a film processor 6100 serving as recording means on a film 6110 serving as a recording medium.

While the present invention has been described with reference to exemplary embodiments, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the disclosed exemplary embodiments. The scope of the following claims is to be accorded the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and equivalent structures and functions. 

1.-12. (canceled)
 13. A radiation detection apparatus comprising: a sensor panel that detects light; a first scintillator layer that includes a set of columnar crystals arranged on said sensor panel, and converts radiation into light detectable by said sensor panel; a scintillator substrate; and a second scintillator layer that includes a set of columnar crystals arranged on said scintillator substrate, and converts radiation into light detectable by said sensor panel, wherein a face of said first scintillator layer on an opposite side to a face contacting said sensor panel faces a face of said second scintillator layer on an opposite side to a face contacting said scintillator substrate using an adhesive layer formed between said first scintillator layer and said second scintillator layer.
 14. The apparatus according to claim 13, wherein the number of said columnar crystals per unit area of said first scintillator layer is greater than the number of said columnar crystal per unit area of said second scintillator layer.
 15. A radiation detection system comprising: the radiation detection apparatus according to claim 13; and a signal processing unit that processes a signal obtained by said radiation detection apparatus.
 16. A radiation detection apparatus comprising: a sensor panel that detects light; a first scintillator layer that includes a set of columnar crystals arranged on said sensor panel, and converts radiation into light detectable by said sensor panel; a scintillator substrate; and a second scintillator layer that includes a set of columnar crystals arranged on said scintillator substrate, and converts radiation into light detectable by said sensor panel, wherein a face of said first scintillator layer on an opposite side to a face contacting said sensor panel faces a face of said second scintillator layer on an opposite side to a face contacting said scintillator substrate using a sealing member adhered to a side face of said sensor panel and a side face of said scintillator substrate.
 17. The apparatus according to claim 16, wherein the number of said columnar crystals per unit area of said first scintillator layer is greater than the number of said columnar crystal per unit area of said second scintillator layer.
 18. A radiation detection system comprising: the radiation detection apparatus according to claim 16; and a signal processing unit that processes a signal obtained by said radiation detection apparatus. 